Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

OWENSBORO, Ky. — Hours before officials released the names of three people killed in an Owensboro shooting, friends of the youngest victim had already identified the 18-year-old on Facebook publishing memorials in his honor.

Four people were shot Thursday in what Owensboro Police are investigating as a triple homicide. One victim, 35-year-old Carmen Vanegas, was taken to a hospital in critical condition but survived and was undergoing treatment as of Friday afternoon.

Three men were killed, according to Owensboro Police: 43-year-old Jay Michael Sowders, 35-year-old Robert Smith Jr. and 18-year-old Christopher Carie. Two were pronounced dead at the home when police arrived, while a third was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Screenshot from Chris Carie's Facebook page.(Photo: Screen capture)

Friend Samuel Hamilton told the Courier & Press he went to school with Carie.

“I’ll never forget the respect he showed and how real he was,” Hamilton said in a Facebook message. “He always meant the best with everything.”

He still hasn’t processed Carie’s death, Hamilton said. He’s been searching for new details on what happened during the shooting as officials release updates on the investigation.

“It’s just unbelievable that people can just do this to other people,” he said.

Owensboro Police have arrested two men in connection with the shooting. Department spokesman Officer Andrew Boggess said investigators are still executing search warrants and haven’t ruled out the possibility of more suspects being charged.

Arnett Baines(Photo: Supplied/Daviess County Jail)

Arnett Baines, 30, and Cylar Shemwell, 31, both from Owensboro, were booked into Daviess County Jail on Friday. Owensboro Police are seeking three charges of murder and one charge of first-degree assault against each man.

Owensboro Police were called to a house in the 900 block of Audubon Avenue about 11 a.m. Thursday for a report of "multiple people down."

The police department announced Thursday that investigators thought Shemwell and another unidentified man could have information about the shooting.

Cylar Shemwell(Photo: Provided)

Boggess confirmed investigators had spoken to Shemwell on Friday morning. No booking photo was available for Shemwell as of Friday afternoon.

Police are still looking for a man pictured in surveillance footage who they believe may have information about the case.

Investigators published photos of the man Thursday and asked the public to help identify him. Boggess said Friday afternoon the man had not been contacted yet.

The man is not considered a suspect, Boggess said, but was recently seen with one of the victims.

Owensboro police are asking for help to identify this man they say may have information about the Thursday shooting that left three dead and a fourth seriously injured.(Photo: Owensboro Police)

All of the victims were found in the basement of the house, according to OPD. Investigators believe the suspects knew at least one of the victims, but police have not released information on how they knew each other or which people may have known each other.

Boggess confirmed that multiple children lived in the home. Police have not said how many children lived there.

The children are safe, Boggess said. Social Services was contacted in connection with the case.

Anyone with information on the case can call OPD at 270-687-8888 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 270-687-8484.

CLOSE

Owensboro Police Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess talks about the shooting that left three dead and a fourth injured.
MaCabe Brown, Courier & Press